Harwin elementary was held up as an example for innovation Monday as the province's education minister passed through Prince George.
Peter Fassbender toured the inner city school and learned about four projects that combine hands-on learning and community partnerships.
The school gym was full of children displaying pictures from their canoe trips and cooking classes.
Some students sat in a drumming circle, and others showed off their carving skills, like the girl who carved and painted a bear representing her clan.
The stage had been converted into a space for project-based learning and building, like the wooden push car that Fassbender rolled around in to the delight of students.
Harwin's principal Nevio Rossi said innovative ideas are not the problem.
"The hard part is implementing it."
To get there, teachers need a number of factors in their favour:
Student buy-in: "It's crucial to think outside the box."
Multiple partners committed to getting the project off the ground: "this is the key to success"
Finally, but most importantly, maintaining the momentum: "It's extremely difficult but persistence is important."
A partnership with Canfor, for example, kicked off last year and was renewed again.
Students take 10 sessions and learn carpentry and electrical work.
Strengthening Families is another program that partners with the city, the Prince George Native Friendship centre and others to increase parental involvement with at-risk youth.
"It's this kind of thing we can share around the province," Fassbender told Rossi.
Later, Fassbender said the forum and the tour of School District 57 was about celebrating success stories and finding the challenges and addressing them.
"As government we have a responsibility to No. 1 to listen, to look, to see where the best practices are and then start to share that so that benefit to districts is what's going on in other districts," he said.
"What I saw in Harwin and the (Centre for Learning Alternatives) is people that are thinking out of the box, developing partnerships and relationships which are going to benefit the students.
Harwin also has a Spirit Den, which is sponsored by the aboriginal education department and encourages student inquiry so they direct their learning.
"These kids started with their own ideas," said Rossi, adding that project will also partner with the College of New Caledonia next year.
They didn't have a space for the program, so they made one.
"We converted our stage into a workshop," said Rossi.
He saw a direct impact on student engagement. The usual suspects he'd see in the principal's office were no longer coming in.
"I never saw them after this project started."
Grade 5 student Caresse Davis said the project-based learning has helped her leadership and problem-solving skills.
"It has helped me in many different ways," she said.
On a presentation board, the 11-year-old had glued pictures of herself learning to cook with a CNC instructor.
She flipped through a menu with items like berry sauce that she now could make and pointed to inspirational phrases she'd picked for the day: "don't be a parrot in life, be an eagle."
Her teacher, Jennifer Goldstein, said she often sees another side of students who can be associated with behaviour challenges in traditional settings.
"They have a lot of experience and knowledge they wouldn't use traditionally in the classroom," she said, but getting kids using tools in a shop and or cooking reinforces their skills and confidence.
"It's a whole other way for kids to shine."
For more coverage on Minister Fassbender's visit, see page 5.
